Where Do You Get Your Protein?

“Where do you get your protein?” It’s the question I hear most often whether I am meeting a new patient, doing a speaking engagement or having casual conversation with friends and (sometimes) family when I’m extolling the benefits about whole food, plant based eating. (Notice I said “whole food plant based” and not vegan. Vegan food is not always whole food or healthy, thanks to the wizardry of marketing teams at big food companies.)

When I’m asked the question of “where do you get your protein” I almost always want to respond by asking “where do you get your antioxidants, fiber, trace minerals and other necessary nutritional needs, because they certainly don’t exist in animal foods.” I’ve learned, however, to be patient in my response and I just say “there are many ways to get protein without the added fat and hormones and antibiotics present in animal foods,” or if I’m having a really good day I will just respond “I get my protein the same place the animal gets it, from plants.

Anyway, I came across an article about the 10 best high protein vegan (there’s that word again but it’s in the title) foods that will easily provide the 40 – 50 grams of protein needed each day and thought it was worth passing along. Getting enough protein from plant foods is not that difficult to do. You can access the article here to see for yourself.

I like most of the suggestions but have a few exceptions such as the use of seitan. Seitan is a wheat based food that is usually flavored to taste like something other than wheat. It’s not the gluten that turns me off but the heavy concentration of it and the additives and flavors it contains. I really like the use of chickpeas, lentils and other beans.